Bin Hammam said that he was unhappy the local football federations in the Gulf countries do not adopt a professional system.

He stated that in 2009, only the Asian federations who run the game in a professional manner will be allowed to admit clubs into the Champions League competition.

“The AFC has already set the terms and regulations for the Champions League,” the Qatar native told Al-Riyadh paper on Thursday.

“The most important element is that we have professional clubs under the umbrella of professional federations that abide by the rules of FIFA.

“We are not going to compromise regarding that matter,” he insisted.

The 57-year-old Bin Hammam said that teams that do not meet the requirements set by the AFC will be demoted to the continent’s second best competition, the AFC Cup.

“These clubs will be labeled as amateurs and will play in the AFC Cup,” he said.

“It’s about time everyone knows that in football, there is amateurism and professionalism, and it’s up to the local federations to decide which route they want to take.”

Football federations in the Gulf have failed to adopt a complete professional system to run the game.

They don’t abide by FIFA’s regulations regarding transfer periods and player loan terms.